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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has joined hands with nearly 40 national, regional and international scientific and research organisations from around the world as one of the founding members of the Alliance of International Science Organizations in the Belt and Road Region (ANSO). Initiated by the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS), ANSO is an international, non-profit and non-governmental scientific organisation for identifying and addressing common issues in the Belt and Road Region to tackle world scientific challenges. Founding members include scientific and research organisations from Russia, Pakistan, Poland, Hungary, Nepal, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand and Brazil. CUHK is the only institution from Hong Kong in the Alliance. 

Professor Rocky S. TUAN, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, attended the inauguration ceremony of ANSO and the Second International Science Forum of Scientific Organisations on the Belt and Road Initiative which took place from 3 to 5 November 2018 in Beijing. Vice-Premier LIU He of the People’s Republic China officiated at the opening ceremony. He brought a congratulatory letter from President XI Jinping in which the president said that the scientific communities in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative could make good use of the ANSO platform to enhance coordination in scientific and innovation-related policies and strategies. During the First General Assembly of ANSO, the founding members signed the agreement for joining the Alliance and reconfirmed the ANSO Statute. They also discussed future strategies for promoting science and technology cooperation in the Belt and Road Region at the meeting, specifically the conduct of substantial international collaboration in eco-environment protection, biodiversity conservation and livelihood improvement. 

“CUHK is honoured to serve as one of the founding members of ANSO, an epoch-making transnational scientific league. The invitation from the Chinese Academy of Sciences to CUHK to take part in this strategic alliance is a testimony to both our and Hong Kong’s significant role in national and international science and technology development. We look forward to collaborating with the scientific communities from the member countries in major scientific and technology projects to cultivate talent for sustainable economic development. We also hope that dedicated investigators from different disciplines will grasp the many opportunities offered by this platform for various science, technology and innovation-related initiatives in the Belt and Road Region,” said Professor TUAN.

To capitalise on the new opportunities presented by the national Belt and Road Initiative, CUHK has attached great importance to developing and strengthening links with Belt and Road Region on different fronts. In particular, the University has set up the Global China Research Programme in its Strategic Plan (2016-2020) and developed a China Engagement Strategy in both of which the Belt & Road initiative constitutes a major direction for the future development of the University.